April 20, 2017

Easter Thurs

April 20, 2017:  Thursday, Easter Octave

See some 14 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen

Read
  • Acts 3:11-26  Peter at Solomon's Portico after cripple's healing:  “Why are you amazed, and why do you look at us as if we cured him?  God glorified Jesus; you killed him, but God raised him.  Faith in Jesus cured the man.  God fulfilled the prophecies that his Christ would suffer.  Repent and be converted so your sins may be wiped away and God may send you Jesus, and in your offspring all shall be blessed.”
  • Ps 8:2ab, 5-9  "O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!"  You've crowned him and given him dominion over created things.
  • Lk 24:35-48  They recounted how they recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread.  Jesus came:  “Peace!” but they thought him a ghost.  “Look at my hands and feet, and touch me; a ghost has no flesh or bones.”  They were joyful and amazed.  “Have you anything to eat?”  They gave him fish, and he ate it.  “I told you everything about me in the law, prophets, and psalms must be fulfilled....  It is written the Christ would suffer and rise, and that repentance would be preached to all.  You're witnesses.”
    Reflect

    • Creighton:  The movie Risen follows Roman officer Clavius who presided at Jesus' crucifixion, led the post-Easter investigation, trying to find out what Jesus' disciples did with his body.  He found them in the upper room, saw Jesus in their midst, and was shocked.  In today's gospel, two disciples are telling the others about their encounter with Jesus, Jesus shows up, and everyone is startled.  He calms them down by showing he's tangibly with them. They're still incredulous, but now joyful. In the movie, when Clavius interviews disciples about Jesus, they can’t stop grinning; their joy overflows into witness and healing.  We need that kind of joy....
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Catalytic converter":  We'll recognize the risen Christ when Jesus opens our minds to understand Scripture, he breaks bread with us, we receive the Spirit, and we witness for him.  May our hearts burn with purifying fire.  When God's Word is proclaimed, the risen Christ will be recognized; his word is a catalyst, living and effective, achieving its purpose.  If we proclaim God's Word, many will recognize and live for the risen Christ.  This helps us understand why the early Church spread the word.  The apostles concentrated on prayer and ministry of the word. "The word continued to spread."  May we hear, read, live, and share God's Word daily....
    • Passionist:  Today’s readings speak of faith and doubt.  The crippled man is cured, the people praise Peter and John, and Peter reminds them that it was faith in Christ that cured him.  Jesus' disciples were overwhelmed by his appearance, even though they'd just seen him and were talking about it.  Jesus seems to be trying to convince them he rose as he said he would.  He needs to open their minds to understand.  Even though he walks, talks, and eats with them, their faith stays weak till the Spirit fills them at Pentecost.  Today we believe Jesus died for our sins, rose, and promises us eternal life, but how strong is our faith?  Do we live in accord with our belief?  May we grow in faith so the Spirit may fill our hearts and lives, and all we do will be permeated with deep faith in the Risen Christ.
      The appearance of Christ at the Cenacle/ Tissot
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures":  We can be like the apostles, not believing unless we see with our own eyes.  Jesus assures his disciples he's not a ghost, showing them the marks of his crucifixion, eating, and explaining how the Scriptures foretold his rising.
    "As he showed them real hands and a real side, he ate with his disciples, walked with Cleophas, conversed with men, reclined at supper, with real hands broke and offered bread...  Don't put the Lord's power on the level of magic tricks, so he may appear to have been what he wasn't, and may be thought to have eaten without teeth, walked without feet, broken bread without hands, spoken without a tongue, and showed a side that had no ribs" (Jerome, Letter to Pammachius against John of Jerusalem 34).
    The gospel doesn't end with the cross:  Through the cross Jesus defeated our enemies and won pardon for our sins, opening heaven to us.  The cross led to life, victory, power to overcome everything that would stand in the way of God's love and truth.  As the first disciples were commissioned to proclaim the good news, so are we called to be witnesses of the resurrection....
      •  Marcellinus (bishop), Vincent and Domninus, all missionaries from Africa to Gaul/France
    Dress legend
      • 'Angel' pin:  "You made people little less than the angels..." (psalm)
      • 'Crown' tie bar:  "...and crowned them with glory and honor,..." (psalm)
      • 'Feet' pin:  "...putting all things under their feet,..." (psalm); "look at my... feet" (gospel)
      • 'Sheep' tie bar"  "all sheep, beasts, fish..." (psalm)
      • 'Wheat' pin:  Jesus' disciples recognized him in the breaking of the bread (gospel)
      • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  “Peace be with you.” (gospel)
      • '?' tie pin:  "Why do questions arise in your hearts?" (gospel)
      • 'Skeleton' tie pin:  "A ghost doesn't have flesh and bones as you see I have." (gospel)
      • 'Hands' pin:  "Look at my hands" (gospel); "You've given him rule over the works of your hands" (psalm)
      • 'Fishes' tie: "They gave him a piece of fish" (gospel); The Lord gave people... fish (psalm) [BTW I have other 'fish' ties; this one has the most.  I must have been thinking of tomorrow's gospel.]
      • 'Walker' tie pin:  Cripple who now walks (1st reading)
      • White shirt and socks:  Color of day and season

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